Machine for making containers



Oct 13, 1931. A. SCHROEDER MACHINE FOR MAKING CONTAINERS Original Filed May 20 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 13, 1931. A. SCHROEDER MACHINE FOR MAKING CONTAINERS Original Filed May 20 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 5% mam Patented Oct. 13, 1931 QQUNITED STATES PATIENT} OFFICE ANTHONY SGHROEDER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES MERLE FINN EY, OF CLEVELAND; OHIO; ALBERT Y. BECKWITH, ADMINl STRATOR OF SAlI) ANTHONY SCI-IROEDEB, DECEASED, ASSIGNOR TO MOLLIE SCHEOEDER, F

CLEVELAND, OHIO I MACHINE FOR MAKING CONTAINERS Original application filed May 20, 1925', Serial No. 31,530. Patent No. 1,635,506. Divided and this application filed July 5, 1927. Serial No. 203,558.

This invention relates to mechanism for heading or seaming heads on the bodies of metal containers, for example, barrels, drums,'liquid holders, storage tanks and receptacles for dispensing mechanisms and the process of forming, folding and rolling the seams between the heads and the bodies thereof. The invention may be applied to the manufacture of containers for storing or shipping purposes, sometimes termed steel barrels or drums. It will be obvious that the invention may be used for making such containers or tanks of varying sizes and formed from sheet metal of different gage, as desired. The invention is particularly useful in the manufacture of containers, tanks and receptacles having the seams for their heads disposed around their side walls, so that the heads will be fiat instead of being provided with rip-standing rims (usually referred to as chimes) around the edges of the heads. a

This application is a division of my application filed May 20, 1925, Serial No. 31,530 see Letters Patent No. 1,635,506.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved seaming mechanism of relatively simple construction and capable of folding and interlocking the flanges of a container body and a head therefor to form a scam in a rapid and ready manner, whereby the amount of laborusually required is reduced and greater output results.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism for seaming the flanges of a containerbody and a head therefor wherein the head is flat and disposed in a plane atone end of the container body.

Another object of the invention is to construct an improved seaming machine wherein provision is made forsupporting the head and body with their flanges in concentric relation to eachother and the axis about which they rotate during the seaming operation and for insuring this relation while seaming of the flanges is effected.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved seaming mechanism seaming a head or top on a tank body whereby the appearance of the finished tank is improved and its surface lends itself for decoration purposes, the tank may be readily cleaned and' the ac umulation of grit, dirt and material is avoided.

' Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates from the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is an elevation of a mechanism embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 4a is a view on the line 4ala of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of a seaming roller, in elevation and the container body and a head therefor in section, embodying my invention; the seaming roller being in its first or starting position.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the position of the roller when operated to its second position.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view showing the final operation of rolling down the seam.

In the drawings, 1 indicates as an entirety a frame. The frame 1 may comprise a table or bed 2, supported on suitable legs 2a, and a pair of upright members 3 connected at their upper ends by a cross member 4. The members 3 may be spaced to receive between them the largest sized receptacle or tank desired to be made on the machine.

The frame 1 may also be provided with a member 5 extending laterally from One side of the machine.

The elements of the frame, just referred to. may be integrally connected or otherwise formed. At its remote or outer end, the extension member 5 is provided with an upright shaft hanger 6, provided with bearings 7. The bearings 7 and bearings 8 provided on the adjacent end of the table 2. support a shaft 9, the purpose of which will be later set forth.

10 indicates a vertical shaft mounted in suitable bearings provided centrally of the table 2. 11 indicates a gear fixed to the shaft lOO 10. The gear 11 is preferably a bevel gear and is driven by a bevel pinion (not shown) on the inner'end of the shaft 9. 12 indicates as an entirety-the driving means for theshaft 9. The driving means 12 preferably-comprises a pulley 12a, loosely mounted, on the shaft 9, and clutch elements 13, One clutch element is fixed to the pulley 12a; the other clutch element is splined to the shaft 9' and connected with and released from the first mentioned element by a lever 14;, a, Wel known manner.

15indicates a basemember supported on thetable 2. r The base member 15 is so shaped and contructed that it encloses the gear 11 and driving pinion therefor. Centrally, the base member 15 is formed'with an open ing through which the shaft 10 and hub memmay be provided with an integral, radially 17 indicatesasupport connected to the upperend of the shaft 10 and arranged to receive the tank bod-y, indicated at A, and the -head, indicated at a, to be seamed thereto.

In the present illustrative form of the mechanism, the seaming operations are carried out at the lower end of each body A- and the head a seamed thereto preferably becomes the top of the tank or receptacle. The bottom of the'receptaclemay be secured to the body in any desired manner.

18 indicates the cates the flange of the body'bent upwardly at an inclined angle, preferably corresponding to the inclination of the head flange 18 so as to'lie in face to face, relation therewith. As shown, thehead flange 18ha-s a width'greater than the flange 18a (preferably approximate 1y twice its width) so that itvmay berolledor bent over the flange 18 in eflecting the first seaming operation; In this form of construction, due to the arrangement of the flanges 18, 18a, the body A rests at its end on the heada, when assembled for the seaming operation-see Fig. 5. The support 17 is preferably formed in its uppersurface with a recess 17a, the sides of the recess being inclined so as to support the inclined flange '18 of the iead a. The support 17 is preferably detachablyconnected to the shaft 10 so that it may be removed and a support of a different diameter substituted accordingto'the size of the tank to be'made at anytime. Theibottom of therecess may be a plane surface and the head a may be flat and engage with such surface; or such surfac'e may be concaved slightly and the head correspondingly shaped. so that the latter, when the tank is in use, will form a slight- 1y convexed surface, thus insuring the flow f any liquid dropping or accumulating on the head off therefrom over the side edges of the tank. In the use herein of the terms fiat or plane, I intend to comprehend thereby a head which maybe slightly curved. 19 indicatesaplate adapted to engage the upper end of the body A and hold it and the 1 .head a firmly on the support 17. The plate 19 is fixed to the lower end of a rod 19 slidably mounted in guides 20, which are provided' on the'cross member 4, and bearings 21 provided on a cross piece '22! The cross piecev22 is acljustably connected atits opposite ends to the upright frame members 3.

- 23ind1cates a sleeve fixed tofltheflrod 19,

preferably above'the cross member 4, having collars 23a whichform bearings for the bi.- furcated end of'a lever 24, whereby the latter is pivotally connected to thesleeyeQ The.

lever 24 is pivotally supported in anywell known manner, preferably in'a bracket 24a, on the cross member 1 and counterbalanced at its outer end, as shown at 25. 26 indicates devices for operating the lever 2 1 about its pivot toraise and lower the rod 19. The

rod is raised to disengage the plate from the body (see dotted lines in Fig. 1) andthus.

permit the positioning of a tank body and head on the support 17 or their removal therefrom it is lowered-to movethe plate '19 into engagement with the body and thus clamp and the head firmly on the support 17 and hold them thereon duringthe rotation of support 17 and the formin ofthe seam; The

I devices 26 preferably comprise a pair of flange of the head a bent upWardly at an inclined angle. 18a indithrough an arm 28a to a rod 29, which is operated by means 30, such as a compressed air operated piston, controlled by a lever 30a. The operating means 30 may comprise a cylinder 30?) containing a piston, a valve mechanism to admit air-to either side ofjthe piston, a rod 306 connected tojthe piston and a bell crank d mounted on the cross member land connected to the rod 29. The conipressed air operated piston not only serves to move the clamping plate 19 into engagement with the drum A, but by maintaining the air pressure on the piston, it may be utilized' to effect a yielding engagement of the plate 19 with the tank body A. while the seam ing operation between it and a head a on the support 17 takes place for a purpose which will later appear. r I

- The cross piece 22 is preferably so connected to the framemembers 3 that it can be adjusted to diiferentpositions according to forfolding or bending the flange18a of the containerbody A and the flange 18, of a head a into'interlocking relation readyfor a roll g d wn per t 'en OO IIlP Q IS, he se t ons of the folded flanges intoclose face to face relation to complete the seam and thus, permanently secure the head and body together in aliquid tight manner. The folding or bending mechanism 31 is constructedto provide for movement of the seaming device through a planedisposed substantially radially of the body A in a lateral or downward direction relative to the body end. This movement may be in a rectilinear direction, but to simplify the construction and the means for guiding andeffecting this movement of the seaming device, the seaming device is mounted on one end of a relatively long arm that is pivoted at its opposite end,

so that the seaming device traverses a relatively long are as the bending operation is efiected. Of this folding or bending mechanism, 32 indicates a base secured in any desired manner to the bracket 16. At its outer end, the base 32 is provided with an upstanding lug 33 in which is formed a screw threaded opening 331;, adapted to receive a feed screw 34; the lug 33 thereby serving as a nut for the screw 34. At its outer end the feed screw 34 has fixed to it a relatively large wheel 35, by means of which the screw 34 may be rotated in either direction. At its inner end the screw 34 is reduced to form a shaft 34a rotatably fitting an opening 36 in a slide or carriage 37. The slide37may comprise a shoe 37a slidably fitting ways 32a formed in the base 32 and held therein by overhanging strips 38, and a vertically disposed web 37 I; having a flange 37 c. The ways 32a are parallel to an imaginary line preferably extendin radially of the axis of the container body As shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the rear or outer end of the shoe 37a is provided with an rip-standing lug 37a in which the opening 36 is formed. Theshaft 34a is provided on its inner end with a collar or nut 39 which bears against the inner face of the lug 37 a. Due to the engagement of the collar 39 and the shoulder resulting by reducing the end of the screw 34 with thelug 37 a, the shaft 34ais connected to, the slide 37 so that when the screw 34 moves cndwise in either direction. due to its rotation, it carries the slide 37 with it, the purpose of this operation being to permit of adjustment of the seaming device into. proper position to engage the flanges 18, 18a. The inward adjustment of the slide is limited by a stop 31', which may be adj ustedso as to'keep the seaming device from engaging the body A. The stop 31 may comprise a lateral extension on one of the strips 38 having a threaded opening for a bolt 31a, the free end of which is disposed in the path of movement of'the lug 37 a and is engaged thereby whenthe shoe is operated toward the body A. The'bolt 31a is rotated to adjust its free endso as to limit the adjustment of the shoe. 40 indicates an arm pivotally connected at one end to the lide 37, pre erab y upon-the w b 37b h r of, and adapted to swing upwardly and downwardly thereon. The arm may comprise a base portion 40a, having a flat face slidably engaging the inner face of the web 37?) and guided thereby, and spaced bearing blocks or lugs 406 formed with aligned openings to rotatably support ashaft or spindle 41, carrying at its outer end a seaming device 42 to which reference will later be made. The pivot connection for the arm 40 preferably comprises a bolt 40 extending through openings formed in the web 37 b and arm 40, the boltbeing held in position by a suitable nut 40". The arm 40 may be and preferably is held against lateral movement away from the web 376 by a plate 43 extending from the shoe 37a to the flange 370 and suitably secured thereto-:see Figs. 3 and 4a. As shown in Fig. 4a, both side faces of the outer bearing block 40?) are flat and such block has a width adapting itto fit between the web 37;?) and plate 43, so as to be guided between them vertically aboutthe pivot 40. The spindle 41 is held against endwise movement in the bearing blocks 40?) by the hub of the seaming device 42 engaging one end of the inner block 406 and a collar 44 engaging theopposite end thereof.

45. indicates devices for adjustably supporting the arm 40 in what may be termed its normal. position. The supporting devices 45 preferably comprise a stop 46 disposed above the arm 40 and in position to be engaged thereby and a coiled spring 47 interposed between the arm 40 and the shoe 37a or other, part of the slide 37. The spring 47 normally tends to swing the arm 40 upwardly against the stop 46, the position of which determines the normal position of the seaming device 42.

The stop 46 preferably comprises a bolt screw threaded in and extending through. a threadedopening in the flange 370 (see Fig. 3), being locked in its adjusted position by one ormore nuts 46a in a well known manner. By loosening the .nuts 46a and turning the bolt 46, its inner or free end may be adjusted to position the arm 40 and through it the seamingdevice 42 at the desired position. In connection with this adjustment, it will be understood that the support 17. may be raised or lowered, provision therefor being made between the support and the shaft 10 or and by preference) between the shaft 10 and its driving gear 11, The spring 47 may engage suitable seats 48 provided on the shoe 37a and block 40?) and these seats may have bosses that extend into the ends of the coil to prevent its displaement.

49 indicates as an entirety devices for operating the arm 40 to swing the seaming device laterally in a downward direction to effect one step of my process in forming a container or tank. The operating devices h4 9 preferably comprise a screw 50 extend- 870, the opening 51 'being'preferably ar ranged; to support the screw 50 at substantially right "angles to the arm 40. At'its outer end, thescrew 50 carries a handwheel 'scription, the arm 40 is mounted t'o'swingf 52, by means of which it may be rotated, which "operation willmove the end of the screw downwardly and thusjact through the arm 40 to move the seaming device 412 'from the-positionshown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig, 6, thereby'bending or rolling the'flangesection 18 and body flange 18a into close' relation, and completing'one step ofmy process in forming a container. As will be understood from'the foregoing deon ahorizontal axis, and being disposed in aplane that is radial of the axis ofthe body A, its movementdownwardly, due to operationiof the screw 50,"will be inthis plane; '53 indicates a stop for limiting the downward movement of the arm 40 to prevent undue pressure on the flanges by operation of theseaming device to a point beyond that reauired to carry out. this step of seaming the flanges 18, 18a, into folded relation. The stop 53 is preferablyv mounted on the screw 50, in which arrangement it may comprise one or more nuts 54-, thereby'providing a simple form of adjustment for'the stop to regulate the throw or movement of the arm 40 and through it the seaming device 42.

The mounting of the seaming fdevice herein shown is preferable onaccount of its simplicity and the seaming operation may be readily carried outj because the seaming device42 swings on a relatively long radius, so that its arc of movement approximates a straight'line. In this form of construction, the active face of the seaming device 42 is formed with a groove 12% shaped to cause the edge of the flange 18, as the device .moves downwardly, to bend laterally and rollover on itself with the flange 18a interlocked underneath the rolled over portion, as shown I in Fig. 6. In seaming the head a and body A according to this process, the' head and body are respectively provided with. the flanges 18, 18a, and then assemble'don a rotatable su'pport; next, the flange 18 is rolled on bent over on the flange 18a to perform the ffirst seaming operation; This step of the process is effected by the movement down-- wardly of the seaming device 42' fromthe position shown in' 5 to the position shownin Fig 6. v

Nexhlrollthe interlocked flanges down against theside wall of the body A., In per- I forming this step, I prefer to remove the body A: and head a from the support 17 and position it on a rotatingmemberhaving a mandrel flttmg against the lnner side wall of the body A and applying under pressure 7 shown on the inner side ofthe container body A and the rolling down roller 69 is engaging the seamed portions of the flanges to roll them down into their final or'face to face position. Where it is desired to make the seam flush with the body sidewall, the latter is formed with anfannular recess to receive the related flanges. It will thus be seen that in this process, the seam may be disposed eX- teriorly of the'body. side wall or countersunk to lie flush therewith.

It will be noted from Fig. Gjthatthe metal of'the flanges 18, 18a, at the end of the first seaming operation is in a curved condition, resulting. from the method of carrying out this step; however, incarrying out the next step (see Fig; 7), the sections of the flanges are rolled flat in face to face relation,'thus forminga liquid tight seam or joint.

In the hereindisclosed process or method, I prefer to bend the free edge of the flange 18 inwardly slightly, as shown at 180, the purpose of which is to facilitate the rolling operation, by making it easier for the seaming device .42 to start the metal in its rolling movement. V i I V The joint or seam resulting from the process is liquid and gas tight, so that the container may be used for storing or shipping anykind of materials.

In my improved constructionl scam the headto thesidewall of a tank body ina ready and easy mannerwithout, danger of spreading the flanges or the sections thereof, thus insuring positive operations or" the seaming device. I

In the foregoing description I have used the term upwardly in connection with the flanges/for the head and body forconvenience' since the illustrated form of mechanism shows the head supported horizontally and the body disposed verticall thereon; .but in such use no limitationis' to be imposed on the scope of the-invention since it will be understood thattheseelements may be arranged with thehead in vertical position and the body disposed horizontally and the seamingefl'ectedwhile they arein thesev positionsyor these elements may be reversed,

end of the body A and the seaming device disposedto efl 'ect theseaming operation upwardly.

In. the product formed by my improved mechanism the tank has aneat and smooth outline or appearance, the seam being sub stantially countersunk into the side wall of the tank, the top being flat and the peripheral eliminating a ring or obstruction around the edge of the top to collect dirt, grit and liquid, and providing a surface which may readily be cleaned. This form of construction adapts the tank most advantageously for use as part of a dispensing mechanism for liquids and oil and similar materials. WVhere the tank is used to store gasoline, oil, grease or other lubricant and has associated with it a dispensing means therefor, accumulation of such material on top of the tank, as well as grit and dirt, is avoided. By reason of the smooth exterior surface of the tank and the planular shape of its top, it may be readily cleaned and polished. I

To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates, many changes in construction and widely difiering embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. My disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

lNhat I claim is:

In a seaming apparatus for joining a head having an upwardly inclined flange and a body having an inclined flange of less width than said flange and seated within and in face to face relation with the latter, the com bination of a plane support arranged to engage with and support the head and body, means for rotating said support, a seaming device, and means for moving said device substantially in an inclined inwardly direction in the plane of said flanges to curl the head flange over said body flange.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ANTHON Y SCHROEDER. 

